Millions of Spectrum customers in Indianapolis and across the country can no longer watch Tribune Media-owned TV stations after the cable provider and the company failed to reach an agreement on a new contract.

The contract between both parties expired on 5 p.m. Wednesday. Within the hour, Spectrum subscribers began losing access to Tribune's news and entertainment content, including WXIN-59 (Fox59) and WTTV-4 (CBS4) in Indianapolis.

CBS4 displayed a blue screen explaining why the programming is no longer available.

"Tribune is seeking excessive fees for its broadcast station as well as forcing consumers to pay for networks like WGN, which very few people watch," the message said in part.

Tribune-owned CBS4 was no longer available to Spectrum subscribers on Jan. 2.(Photo: Crystal Hill)

“We’re extremely disappointed that we do not have an agreement on the renewal of our contract with Spectrum,” Tribune spokesman Gary Weitman said in a news release. “The NFL playoffs are in jeopardy — beginning this weekend with critical games in some key markets like Indianapolis and Seattle. We don’t want Spectrum subscribers to miss these games.”

Customers in Indianapolis will be able to watch Saturday's Colts game because it airs on RTV6, which is not owned by Tribune. However, CBS and Fox are airing the Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys games, respectively.

In a statement to IndyStar on Wednesday, Spectrum said Tribune is not being "reasonable."

"Tribune is demanding an increase of more than double what we pay today for the same programming," a spokesman said. "That is more than we pay any other broadcaster."

"They've pulled their channels from other distributors over the recent years as a negotiating tactic," the website says.

IndyStar reached out to Tribune's spokesman for additional comment. In the company's statement on Wednesday, Tribune says it has offered Spectrum "fair market rates."

“Spectrum has refused our offer and failed to negotiate in a meaningful fashion," the statement said.

Chicago-based Tribune owns 33 local television stations in 24 markets. In Indianapolis, about 70,000 Spectrum subscribers are affected. Across the country, 6 million customers are affected.

On its website, Fox59 says Tribune was doing its best to ensure a blackout doesn't occur, "but Spectrum is stalling in reaching a new agreement." Fox59 officials pointed to Tribune's news release when reached by IndyStar for comment.